A British Airways stewardess who stole £100,000 in donations made by passengers to a children’s charity was given a 50-week suspended jail sentence and fined £13,000 yesterday.

Gillian Paterson, 36, who worked for BA for ten years, handed out envelopes to collect money for the Unicef campaign, Change for Good, but then kept the cash.

In what the judge described as a series of “despicable” and “spiteful” acts, Paterson played passengers a short film showing children in need, before gathering their loose change.

She even put herself down to work in Business Class, knowing the position would give her responsibility for depositing the charity’s cash.

BA sources told Isleworth Crown Court that she stole up to £100,000 over 13 months.

Paterson, of Angmering, West Sussex, was exposed when she left her car to be cleaned at Gatwick and a valet discovered empty envelopes, meant to contain cash for the charity, in the boot.

Recorder Angela Morris dismissed Paterson’s claim that she had forgotten to deposit the donations, describing it as “cynical and a deliberate lie”.

Times Recommends

• An officer and a gentle woman
• Dame Helen Mirren is worthy of the Epidaurus
• Foods that can help to prevent swine flu